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GEO. O. STATES

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 41.

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GEO. O. STATES

By GEO. O. STATES

Lessons From Past Experiences — No. 6

GEO. O. STATES

Any person who has observed the development of our work can but be convinced that the Lord has led in the various lines.
When Elder White and other leading brethren thought that in order to successfully carry on the work we should have to organize and take a name, some strongly opposed the move, and there was a lack of unity. Some wanted to take the name “The church of God.” Sister White was shown that the name “Seventh-day Adventist” carries the true features of our faith, and will convict the inquiring mind. That united those who believed this gift from the Lord, and those who rejected the light soon gave up the truth. One of our leading ministers in Michigan who accepted the truth in 1853 in after years studied infidel works that he might refute them, and was reproved by the spirit of prophecy. In rejecting the light, he became discouraged and gave up the truth, remaining in that condition a number of years.
In the early days of camp-meetings among us, after the meeting had begun, Brother White and the leading brethren telegraphed him an invitation to come to the meeting. As the power of God came in, this brother again took his stand for the truth, and preached the message for a number of years before his death.
Our people are recognized the world over as the leaders in sanitarium work. I think it well for our younger members, to say that the great principles of health reform which have given us so prominent a position in the world were shown by Sister White in Otsego, Mich., June 6, 1863, which was some years before the Health Institute was started in Battle Creek. Much ridicule was cast upon us for adopting the principles of health reform. We were called bran-bread eaters. Our physicians are recognized as standing at the head in these reforms, and yet the light was given us through this gift.
The educational work that has reached such dimensions was started as a result of the light which came to Sister White upon the matter of education. She was shown that our people should have schools. In 1867 Professor Bell saw the Testimony. He told the brethren that if they would fix up the old office building, he would teach in it. That was the first educational work among us, and we all know how it has advanced.
The Testimonies have led us out in the matter of tract and missionary work. Over forty years ago a Testimony was given to the effect that we were not doing our duty in the gratuitous circulation of our small publications. Our people were counseled to take them with them to hand out in traveling, and when writing, they were urged to send small tracts with their letters. This counsel was heeded, and now we see a great work carried on through the agency of the tract and missionary societies. In the early days of our tract work we used to get addresses through different means, and as we would send out the reading, ask the Lord’s special blessing upon it. Those were days when the Lord’s people came close together.
When our people first suggested having a camp-meeting, many thought it was a terrible mistake, a step backward. While I did not go to the first one, I felt the influence of it from those who did attend, who for weeks were telling us about the power of God that was present. The Testimonies have led out in that work also.
Cedaredge, Colo.